Valve for steam-engines



:TTED sTATEs PATENT onirica.

JOHN HARDICK AND GHAS. B. HARDIOK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

VALVE' FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN HARDICK and CHARLES B. HAnDroK, of Brooklyn,in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented, made, andapplied to use a certain new andk useful Improvement in Valves forDirect-Acting Steam-Engines; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, referencebeing had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification,wherein- Figure 1, is a. plan of our improved valve with the cover ofthe steam chest removed. Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal section andF ig. 3, is a cross section of our valve, chest, and part of the steamcylinder.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts. v

Steam engines have heretofore been made direct acting upon the pump orother mechanism to be moved, so as not to require the intervention ofcranks and connecting rods. Our invention is especially applicable withthis character of engine. The valves of such engines have been act-edupon by a rod and tappets taken by an arm on the piston rod, and asecond steam valve with a piston has been employed to give motion to andcontrol the action of the main steam valve. In these instances the mainvalve has been liable to stoppage in consequence of the steam piston nottraveling quite far enough to give the full movement-or if stopped in aparticular position, the valve would so remain and exclude steam fromthe main cylinder unt-il moved by hand.

Our invention obviates all the aforesaid difficulties and consists in astationary piston in a cylinder formed upon or attached to the mainvalve and receiving steam from a suitable secondary valve by meanswhereof the steam causes the main valve to move and admit steam on theopposite side of the engine piston. We also prevent concussion to themain valve as moved in the aforesaid manner, by a cushion of steamconned in an annular space by a head or disk.

In the drawing a, a, are the steam ports of any usual steam cylinder.

m, is the exhaust port.

Z), is the steam valve of any ordinary construction adapted to the saidports a, a, and

vo, is the steam chestand cZ, the opening or pipe for steam from theboiler.

The valve Z9, is formed with or connected to a cylinder e, that isprovided with heads f, f. Inside this cylinder e, is the piston g thatis placed at the middle of the rod Z1., the ends of which pass throughthe respective heads f, f, and take against the inside of the steamchest o, so that the said piston g, remains stationary and if steam isadmit-ted into the cylinder on one side, the cylinder and valve Vmovetoward the steam chest on the side of the piston at which they steam isadmitted.

To prevent concussion by the valve coming in contact with the inside ofthe steam chest we provide the disks lc, 7o, that are stationary o-n thepiston rod h, and in the heads f, f', annular cylindrical recesses Z, Z,are formed, the steam being constantly in these recesses forms a cushionwhen confined by the disks Z, Z, as the movement of the valve causes oneof the recesses to inclose this disk and confine the steam so that theaccumulation of pressure arrests the momentum of the valve.

In order to give motion to the main steam valve b, we employ thesecondaryvalve z', moving on the seat m, formed as a part of the mainvalve Z). This valve z', is moved by the arm n, from the rock shaft 0,that receives its motion from the arms p, and a rod or other suitableconnection to the cross head of the engine, or an arm projecting fromthe piston rod or other suitable device. This secondary valve is formedof a size and shape adapted to the ports 1, 2, and 3, in the seat m.lIhe port 3, opens into the exhaust way of the main valve Z9, and theports l, and 2, open into the respective ends of the cylinder e.

The operation is as follows: The valve e', is by the rock shaft o, movedin the same direction as the main steam engine piston and as soon as theend thereof uncovers one of the ports 1, or 2, steam immediately rushesinto that end of the cylinder e, and acting between the stationarypiston g, and head f, moves the main valve Z9, in the oppositedirect-ion, fully uncovering the port 1, or 2, and opening the exhaust(through 3,) at the other side of the piston g,-this movementimmediately reversing the position of the main valve b, opens the steamport a, or a, behind the piston to move it in the other direction, andopens the exhaust to the other side of the piston; and in this positionthe valve Z), remains until the engine is near the end of another strokeWhen the auxiliary valve z' lets steam in on the other side of thestationary piston g, and reverses the position of the valve b, asbefore. The disks 7e, k, in all instances preventing concussion of thevalve against the steam chest by the cushioning as aforesaid.

Our improved stationary piston, cylinder and steam valve are very easilyconstructed and are not injuriously affected by eXpansion the valvecannot be stopped at any center or dead point and the engine Will startwhen the steam is let on no matter what position the piston may be in.

The auxiliary valve is v,easily moved so v that but little strain comeson the rock shaft and parts moving it-and it Will be apparent that theposition in which this auxil` iary valve is applied to the main valvemay be varied if necessary so long as the steam is admitted to thecylinder c, in the rei quired manner.

What vveclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is* l. Thestationary piston g, in combination with the cylinder e, formed With or.

attached to the valve b, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

' "2". Ve also claim the disks Zak, and anrnular recesses Z,` Z, incombination With the said valve), andcylinder c, to `cushion the valveand prevent concussion as set forth.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our signatures this twenty ninthday of July1862. l

JOHN HARDICK. CHARLES B. HARDICK;

y VitneSSes:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, CHAs. H. SMITH.

